Best Fishfinder Available

S

sailsmanship

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 26, 2000
Messages
389
I am looking at upgrading my fishfinder and am looking to see what you think the best color fishfinder for under 1000.00 would be. Let me know... Thanks.
 
dingbat

dingbat

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 20, 2001
Messages
16,387
Re: Best Fishfinder Available

The best recreational finder out right now is Furuno 1150. It will set you back @ $6K with transducer. :D:D

For $1000, including transducer, you could get a Furuno 620. If you want to go upscale a bit, look around for a used Furuno 585. I saw one the other day for $1100 with a transducer.

If your a Lowrance guy take a look at the HDS-7. Not the quailty of a Furuno but a good unit none the less
 
S

sailsmanship

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 26, 2000
Messages
389
Re: Best Fishfinder Available

What would be better for the 620 , a thru hull transducer or a transom mount transducer ?
 
dingbat

dingbat

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 20, 2001
Messages
16,387
Re: Best Fishfinder Available

It really depends on the boat. I had a transom mount for 3 years. It presented a good picture and held bottom well but would pick up a lot of interference at speed. Way too much "noise" to pick out individual fish on the run.

I've since installed the Airmar B-60 thru hull. I'm very happy with it. I can not tell by the screen if I'm drifting or at WOT and can pick up individual fish at any speed.

http://airmartechnology.com/airmar2005/ex20/RMProducts/ElectCat.asp?ProdID=36&Man=All&PageNo=67

If you have good luck with transom mounts then I'd recommend the simpler installation and go with the Airmar P66. You really can't go wrong with either.

http://airmartechnology.com/airmar2005/ex20/RMProducts/ElectCat.asp?ProdID=48&Man=All&PageNo=91
 
T

TheSeasLife

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 23, 2009
Messages
102
Re: Best Fishfinder Available

Garmin also makes a nice affordable and upgradable Fish/Depth/Weather/VHF compatable and more. It is the 420 or 421. It is a little over $500.00 w/transducer. For the price of $300.00 you can upgrade it every year. Out of that $300.00 you get $175.00 APPROX. returned when you return their SD Card. One upgrade is the 3D Mariners View. Check it out I think you will like it for price. We have owned ours for about 1 month and love it.
 
S

sailsmanship

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 26, 2000
Messages
389
Re: Best Fishfinder Available

I have a 25ft. walkaround cutty with a relatively flat bottom. I have had two different fishfinders on it, both with transom mounted transducers, and I have had absolutely no luck with either one of them. First one came with the boat, it was a Hummingbird. I upgraded to a Garmin 400c. That sucks too. I can't get a bottom read over 15 kts. It doesn't pick up fish even when we are in the middle of a school where we are catching alot. I give up. I know the mounting of the transducer is paramount but I had a pro make sure I mounted it right. I don't know if turbulence is a problem, but it is mounted according to directions on placement. I think I want to go thru-hull, but I hate drilling a hole in the bottom. If you think it would be better than I will do it.
 
dingbat

dingbat

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Nov 20, 2001
Messages
16,387
Re: Best Fishfinder Available

If you can't read bottom over 15 kt. that?s bad. You need to find out what?s causing the turbulence before you proceed any further.

Try this. Remove the transducer from its current mount and place it in a bag of water in the bilge. Run around and see if your turbulence problem subsides. If not, move the bag somewhere else and see if that works. If the problem still exists you need to start looking at the bottom of the boat to see what is causing the turbulence.

Towards the end of this presentation it gives you a few things to look out for when selecting a mounting location for a transducer. Should give you can idea of what to look for.

http://airmartechnology.com/uploads/installguide/Furuno 2008 Product & Technical.pdf

The issue with my transom mount was just too much stuff going on at the back of the boat. I had turbulence from tabs, the prop, speed sensors, etc. Looked at putting an in-hull transducer but felt the thru hull was the better way to go in my application. Not everyone is game to putting a 2 ?? diameter hole in the bottom of the boat but it worked for me.

As an FYI, Here is some pretty interesting data on shoot thru transducers mounted in fiberglass hulls. Some surprising information.

http://airmartechnology.com/uploads/installguide/In Hull Frequency Shift.pdf
 
4JawChuck

4JawChuck

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 7, 2009
Messages
504
Re: Best Fishfinder Available

I have a Lowrance 527 DF iGPS and it has been great, the latest software upgrade made it even better. With chip I paid just under $700 for the unit.

I had a lower end Hummingbird before this one and it doesn't even compare, this one has the same features as the larger screen units and is radar capable not that I will ever mount a radar on my 16 ft boat.:p Well maybe if I can find a deal!:D

I am going to wire in a fuel level sensor so I can use the custom gauge screen to monitor fuel level etc. The NMEA networking capability is worth the extra cash if you ask me.

Now if only they would create a tachometer hookup I could get rid of all the gauges in my dash!

The 522 is the same unit so if you want to spend less cash it is virtually identical.
 
Tacklewasher

Tacklewasher

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Sep 18, 2002
Messages
1,588
Re: Best Fishfinder Available

4JawChuck said:
Now if only they would create a tachometer hookup I could get rid of all the gauges in my dash!
Click to expand...

I'd love this as well. I have an HDS-7 (replaced a 522) and there must be some adapter to take tach pulses and turn them into NMEA data.

Type to test my google-fu.
 
4JawChuck

4JawChuck

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 7, 2009
Messages
504
Re: Best Fishfinder Available

Tacklewasher said:
I'd love this as well. I have an HDS-7 (replaced a 522) and there must be some adapter to take tach pulses and turn them into NMEA data.

Type to test my google-fu.
Click to expand...

Here is one, looks like you would have to fabricate a mount to the flywheel etc. but it would do the job. Hard to believe there isn't a Lowrance product that does this simple job.

http://www.xs4all.nl/~bernard/nmearpm.html

I am going to convert my side console to center console and I would really like to eliminate all my gauges with electronic through my 527...looks like I need to research the NMEA standard and find this stuff out on the internet.

An HDS-7, I am jealous! I bought my 527 one year too soon it seems, those side scan units look hot! How do you like yours so far Tacklewasher?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top